William E. Ferrell, manufacturers' representative

William E. Ferrell, a retired manufacturers' representative who earlier had been a patternmaker, ended his life Oct. 26.

The Parkville resident was 79.

"Lately, his health had declined precipitously and his passing came quickly," said a son, William R. Ferrell of Wilmington, Del.

William Edward Ferrell, was born and raised in Trenton, N.J., where he graduated in 1950 from Trenton Catholic High School.

He had been working as a patternmaker at DeLaval Steam Turbine Co. in Trenton, when he enlisted in the Army and served with the infantry in Korea for two years. He was discharged in 1953.

Mr. Ferrell returned to DeLaval and went to work in the company's foundry where he became an "immensely knowledgeable and self-taught metallurgist," his son said.

He moved to Parkville in 1966 and went to work as a manufacturers' representative for Glaser Miller in the city's Pimlico neighborhood.

In 1983, he and a partner established Brown Ferrell, which was a manufacturers' representative, from which he later retired in the early 2000s.

He had lived on Maryland Avenue in Charles Village and later moved to Oak Crest Village retirement community in Parkville.

Mr. Ferrell enjoyed fishing for bass at Loch Raven Reservoir and reading. He also liked building boats, furniture and sculptures.

He enjoyed dining out at Sabatino's in Little Italy, his favorite, family members said, and attending performances of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and Orioles games.

There are no services.

Surviving is his wife of 27 years, the former Elizabeth "Betsy" Turner, who had played bass for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; two other sons, Rick Ferrell of Wilmington, Del., and Jack Ferrell of Kansas City, Kan.; a daughter, Sharon Ferrell of Bear, Del.; two stepsons, Malcolm Turner of Louisville, Ky., and Eric Turner of Costa Rica. Another son, Shawn Ferrell died in 1990. An earlier marriage to the former Joanne Slaboda ended in divorce.